Take vehicles that fail diesel test off the streets to protect public health
Car industry and the government need to prove that cars can deliver clean emissions for the sake of public health As the emissions cheating scandal runs into its second week, we could be witnessing the death throes of diesel in Europe. The VW revelations will draw much-needed attention to the dreadful health impacts resulting from […]
UK tried to block tougher EU car-emissions tests
Environment department has urged British MEPs to vote against real-world inspections of vehicles The British government sought to block EU legislation that would force member states to carry out surprise checks on the emissions of cars, raising fresh questions over ministers’ attitude to air pollution and their conduct in the Volkswagen scandal. A document obtained […]
Former BP boss on VW scandal: ‘With these big crises, you have to overreact’
Lord Browne’s career has seen good times and bad: and coincidentally, his new book discusses how firms should tackle disastrous turns of events Lord Browne is no stranger to crises, both professional and personal. His reign as chief executive of oil giant BP was marred by the Texas City refinery explosion in 2005, in which […]
Corporate scandals and how (not) to handle them
After a disastrous week for VW, we look back at 30 years of business disasters and their cost in lives, money and reputations Estimates suggest up to 25,000 people died and more than 550,000 people were injured, some seriously and permanently, after a gas leak incident at the Union Carbide pesticide plant in Bhopal, India, […]
John McDonnell has 'fallen into Osborne's trap', says Caroline Lucas
Green party MP says shadow chancellor’s decision to back proposed fiscal charter reinforces Tories’ austerity narrative John McDonnell has fallen into George Osborne’s trap by pledging to vote in favour of the chancellor’s proposed fiscal charter, Caroline Lucas has said. Speaking to the Guardian at her party’s autumn conference in Bournemouth on Saturday, the Green […]
Drought blamers: California conspiracists see government's hand in arid climate
A lack of rain is way too simple an explanation for these conspiracy theorists – it’s why it hasn’t rained much in four years that matters: the US government is geoengineering the California climate To most Californians, the state’s four-year drought is not all that mysterious: it just hasn’t rained in a very long time. […]
Cutting greenhouse gas emissions won't slow global economic growth — report
New report from green think tank Heinrich Boll shows OECD countries grew their economies 16% in last decade – and cut greenhouse gas emissions 6.4% As the world works out how to avoid catastrophic climate change, one of the biggest questions remaining is whether we can continue to grow economically without also increasing greenhouse gas […]
Volkswagen emissions scandal: Switzerland bans sale of some models
Country halts sale of VWs in the Euro5 class, which contains bulk of vehicles said to have defeat devices, which mask true emissions Switzerland has banned sales of Volkswagen diesel cars in the most severe step taken so far by a government in reaction to the emissions crisis. The country has stopped the sale of […]
China and US agree on ivory ban in bid to end illegal trade globally
The two largest markets for illegal ivory agree to enact a nearly complete ban on the import and export of ivory to help reduce the loss of elephants to poaching Related: China calls on US to follow its lead in eradicating ivory trade While differences on cyber security and talk of sanctions dominated the headlines […]
California agency sides with SeaWorld on expansion of killer whale tanks
Report said newly captured whales would not be allowed in San Diego location Environmentalists fear theme park would breed more orcas in larger facility A state government report released on Friday recommends allowing SeaWorld to expand its killer whale facility at its San Diego park, outraging environmentalists who say the larger tanks could be used […]